• Nashville Predators GM David Poile took a gamble on trading for Ryan Johansen, and it paid off. [The Tennessean]

• Great description of Ryan Ellis or the greatest description of Ellis? The defenseman “… looks as though he recently emerged from six months of hermitage in the Smoky Mountains and dressed up for a welcome-back-to-society press conference. Or like he had been awarded the honor of delivering the keynote address at one of downtown Nashville’s many conventions. Specifically, an international expo for leprechaun look-a-likes.” [SI]

• John Gibson managed to shake the yips of playoffs past to help lead Anaheim to the Western Conference Final. [NHL]